Malignant large bowel obstruction - what is the priority of treatment?

Obstruction by a tumor accounts for more than half of all emergency large bowel operations. The results of the treatment depend on the type and extent of the operation, the construction or elimination of anastomosis, the number of operation stages, the radicality achieved, or the modalities of treatment. Mortality and morbidity arise from local and systemic disorders due to obstruction and from postoperative complications, in the case of one-stage resections mainly from anastomotic failures. Tactics and technology of treatment change. The quest for oncological radicality raises the question of the priority of treating these conditions. To answer this, current literature, analyses and meta-analyses were reviewed concluding that the priority remains to resolve the obstruction and only then, if possible, eliminate the cause. Key words: large bowel - malignant obstruction - choice of procedure - choice of operation - treatment priorities.